Break fast gesture to promote interfaith trust within Myanmar community

Zaw Myint (Black and yellow) takes a picture with Myanmar Muslims. Hatee is second from left.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Myanmar Ambassador to Malaysia last week broke fast with Muslims from the country, a “historic” occasion for some as relations between Buddhist and Muslims in the country have been tense over the past few years.

On Friday last week, U Zaw Myint attended a “buka puasa” dinner session with about 80 Myanmar Muslims at a restaurant in Ampang. The dinner was organised by the Myanmar Muslim Association of Malaysia.

Activist and writer Hatee Abdul Razak hailed the occasion as a milestone, saying this was the first time that an officer of that level had broken fast with them.

“We are very happy that he accepted our invitation. It’s the first time that an official of his stature has joined us. It’s a very big thing for us,” he said emotionally adding that a few of those present had even shed tears.

Hatte said the ambassador hoped that all communities would work with one another for their betterment.

“We hope the Government in Myanmar could follow his act,” said Hatte who fled his home in Mandalay three years ago.  

The occasion was viewed as historic as tensions in Myanmar have been fraught between the majority Buddhists and minority Muslims since 2012, with sectarian violence leaving many dead and hundreds of thousands displaced. 

Last month, a mob of around 200 destroyed a mosque and cemetery in a Muslim village in the central Bago region. 

This was followed last week by the burning of a mosque in the town of Hpakant in Kachin state.

Hatte believes that the sectarian problems in Myanmar have been manufactured by several parties for political reasons.

Muslims make up about 5% of the 60 million people in Myanmar.

The violence in Myanmar had a spillover effect to Malaysia in June 2013, with clashes here leaving several people dead.

Activist U Aung Than Nyunt of the Ayewaddy Volunteer Association who remembers the clashes in Malaysia said the problems between the communities here seem to have toned down.   

“We want big problems to becomes small ones and small problems to disappear,” he said.

 Zaw Myint was not available for comment.